Most teams have some kind of “Most Improved” award at the end of the season; we’ve talked to teams all over the country and it seems there are many different ways teams decide how to award Most Improved Swimmers! For some teams it might be for the biggest time drop throughout the season, or the biggest time drop from the last season to this one, it might be subjective and chosen by the coaches for … [Read more...]
Swim Team Management
Mobile App Madness- SwimTopia’s Live Event/Heat Indicator
Summer is upon us and, if you’re a parent, we suspect you’re hustling to get everything organized for the swim season: stocking up on snacks, acquiring team attire, planning schedules, etc. It’s an exciting time and, perhaps, you’re most looking forward to the dynamic swim meet scene: team cheers, sharpie body art, and the almost addictive sense of chaos. It’s all part of the experience. However, … [Read more...]
Mentoring Junior Coaches Through a Volunteer Coaching Program
A Tribute to Swim Parents Everywhere
Why do we need to write a tribute to swim parents? Because there wouldn’t be any good swimmers if there weren’t great swim parents behind them! SwimTopia was born from summer league swimming roots, and we all know summer swim teams couldn’t exist without an army of amazing swim parents. We talk to them and work with them every day so feel uniquely qualified to appreciate swim parents and be … [Read more...]
Volunteer Signups: How Does Your Team Manage Them?
The Pros and Cons of Different Ways of Collecting Volunteer Signups SwimTopia works with over 1800 swim teams around the country, so we’ve seen thousands of different ways that teams can manage their volunteers. Ok, that might be a slight exaggeration. 😁 But teams can, and do, use many different strategies to manage their volunteers! Here we’ll explore some pros and cons of different ways of … [Read more...]
Getting Back in the Water Again: Safe Swim Practices and Virtual Meets
As some states are “opening up” on a limited basis, many teams will be using this time to plan a safe return to the pool. USA Swimming has posted guidelines for their teams to use while developing their plans to return to the pool safely, and we’d like to share those with you: USA Swimming's guidelines for Facility Re-Opening Messaging and Planning And what’s a swim season without swim … [Read more...]
Preparing for Summer Swim Team – Safely!
Tips and Tools for Getting Back in the Pool: Planning for Practices and Virtual Swim Meets Many people are starting to wonder when social distancing rules will be relaxed and what that might look like. Our swim teams and leagues are particularly interested in what relaxed rules could look like at swimming pools around the country. SwimTopia staff recently listened in on a webinar that included … [Read more...]
Summer League Swimming – A New Resource For Summer Swim Teams
At SwimTopia we are always looking for ways to help swim team administrators simplify running their swim teams. We’d like to share information about a newly launched resource specifically for summer swim teams: Summer League Swimming. Here is a brief message from Leah Hinnefeld, Director of Education and Marketing for Summer League Swimming, explaining how they can help your team: Summer … [Read more...]
Spring Demos and Trainings 2020
In-person Demos and Trainings Have Been Switched to Webinars With the spread of Covid-19 SwimTopia has decided to ground travel plans, replacing our in-person demos and trainings with webinars. See webinar signup information below. [Blog updated March 11, 2020] Targeted Webinar Demos and Trainings for Teams in the DC Area, Raleigh, and Charlotte Learn more about SwimTopia from our … [Read more...]
